Solution: USB Device Not Recognized in Windows 7

I use many different types of external devices, and all connect to my desktop using the USB ports. Two of the devices are external hard drives that I use to backup my data files. One of the hard drives is a small, portable drive that I store offsite, while the other is a regular, full-size external hard drive.

Recently, however, I ran into a problem where Windows 7 was displaying an error indicating that it couldn’t recognize the external hard drive. The connection between the hard drive and the computer was fine, and the hard drive appeared to be functioning properly. After performing those checks I did some research online, and found my answer.

My USB Device Was Not Recognized

As mentioned above, Windows 7 had trouble recognizing my external hard drive. I have been using that hard drive for a few years without any issues, so I was confused at what caused the problem.

The full error that was displayed in Windows 7 was as follows:

USB Device not recognized: One of the devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned and Windows does not recognize it.

After performing a search online I found that the error could be caused by several issues. Of course, since the problem is caused by one of many issues, there are a few solutions that I could have tried.

The Solutions

While I eventually determined the solution to my problem, there are many solutions to this problem. Below are the solutions that you can try if you also experience the same issue.

1. Reinstall the USB Device

There could be an issue with the installation of the device. To correct this problem, you can uninstall and reinstall the device using the following steps:

Click the “Start” button, and then type “Device Manager” in the search box.

Select the “Device Manager” item from the list that is displayed.

Select the “Disk Drives” item from the list of hardware that is installed.

Find the USB hard drive that is having the issue, and then right-click that device.

Click “Uninstall” from the menu.

Once the hard drive is uninstalled, unplug the USB cable from the computer, wait 1 minute and then reconnect the USB cable.

After the driver is loaded, check to see if the drive is displayed in Windows Explorer.

2. Install Any Windows Updates

The problem with the hard drive could be resolved by updating your version of Windows. Performing a Windows update may solve the issue.

Click the “Start” button, and then type “Windows Update” in the search box.

Select the “Windows Update” item from the list that is displayed.

Within “Windows Update”, click the “Check for Updates” option and wait for the scan to complete.

After the scan, click the “Review optional updates” option.

Follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

Reboot the computer if prompted.

3. Install the Latest Chipset Drivers for Your Motherboard

Just like hardware installed in your computer requires drivers, the chipset that is on the motherboard will also require drivers. Many times these drivers will fix compatibility issues with devices.

The process for updating chipset drivers is different for each manufacturer.

Determine the manufacturer of your motherboard by review the documentation that came with your computer.

Visit the manufacturer’s support website. The manufacturer’s website will usually have a menu options called “Support” or something similar.

Find the appropriate drivers for your motherboard, download and install the drivers. If you require assistance, you should contact your computer’s manufacturer.

4. Reinstall the USB Controllers

The problem could be the USB drivers. The drivers could have become corrupted or unstable and may require a reinstall.

Click the “Start” button, and then type “Device Manager” in the search box.

Select the “Device Driver” item from the list that is displayed.

Find the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” item.

Right-click a device under “Universal Serial Bus controllers” and then click “Uninstall” from the menu.

In my case I had to reinstall the USB hard drive. Once I uninstalled and reinstalled the hard drive, Windows 7 began to recognize the device once again. It has been a few weeks since the issue, so everything is good again and I can continue to backup my data.

great solution and well structured step by step to fix this all-time annoying message error, but the simplest way to fix usb errors upon insertion into the usb port is to remove and plug the usb into a different port

Thanks for this post. I’ve had this issue off and on both my desktop and laptop Windows 7 computers. I used all of the steps above during the duration of an evening prior to the night when all my backups copy to the external drive Windows stopped using. Every step included a reboot, but without succes. Get this. The next morning I rebooted the PC one more time, and then the drive was visible in Windows Explorer with the mapping I assigned it. Any explanation?

Turns out my external backup drive was dying a slow death. The replacement is working quite well. By the way, I was using Maxtor Black Armur drive with built in encryption. The replacement didn’t offer encryption, but after formating it and using TrueCrypt to mount the drive, I once again have an encrypted backup drive. Thanks again for the informative post.

recently my western digital external hard disk was not recognizing the windows 7 i thought that USB drivers are missing after re installing the drives my hard disk was not recognized. then i realized the problem was in hard disk.

The USB standard has become very popular these days and so are thousands of devices that are using this connection. The problem is that, due to multitude of devices used, after a while the SO becomes a bit unstable in this area. Most of the times, the first solution given by Paul will resolve your problem. What I recommend to anyone (kudos Paul) is to upgrade motherboard drivers. This will probably solve a lot of other problems/bugs.

Hi Paul
I have seen that error from time to time, but mostly on Windows XP machines that was not able to find the driver for the USB device. In Windows 7 I think that most devices are working each time.

PPC Techniques for Local ServicesTechnology penetration has made it possible for brands to reach the masses more effectively. Technological awareness is at an all-time high with people gaining access...

Top Reasons You Need To Use SQL Server 2014According to Microsoft, SQL Server 2014 delivers a powerful and incredible set of capabilities for hybrid clouds, business intelligence, and mission-critical workloads. The technology giant...

Choosing the Right WordsWhen it comes to website content, SEO is still king across the Internet. With the proper words and phrases, you can drive traffic to your...